Arid Zone Research ›› 2022, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (5): 1464-1472.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2022.05.11

• Plant Ecology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

β diversity and interpretation of plant communities in Beishan and Manongshan areas of Dunhuang

LI Xing1,2(),XIN Zhiming1,2,DONG Xue1,2,LI Yonghua3,4,5(),DUAN Ruibing1,2,MA Yuan1,2,LI Xing1,2,LI Kuan6   

  1. 1. Experimental Center for Desert Forestry, CAF, Dengkou 015200, Inner Mongolia, China
    2. Inner Mongolia Dengkou Desert Ecosystem National Observation Research Station, Dengkou 015200, Inner Mongolia, China
    3. Institute of Desertification Studies, CAF, Beijing 100091, China
    4. Kumtage Desert Ecosystem National Observation Research Station, Dunhuang 736200, Gansu, China
    5. Dunhuang Desert Ecosystem National Observation Research Station, Dunhuang 736200, Gansu, China
    6. College of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010000, Inner Mongolia, China
  • Received:2022-02-14 Revised:2022-06-28 Online:2022-09-15 Published:2022-10-25
  • Contact: Yonghua LI E-mail:1172303186@qq.com;lyhids@caf.ac.cn

Abstract:

β diversity reflects the different composition of species between communities and is prevalent topic in ecological research. Based on the community survey sites in Beishan and Manongshan areas of Dunhuang of Bray-Curtis index of 79 plants, this study analyzed the relationship between community and climatic factors, soil factors and geographical distance. The results showed a geographical decay pattern of plant communities in the Beishan and Manongshan areas of Dunhuang, and the β diversity was dominated by βsim. The β diversity and its turnover components were significantly affected by climate, soil, and geographical distance. Multiple regression analysis (MRM) showed that climate, and soil factors and geographical distance affected β diversity and its turnover components differently, and the effects of climate and soil factors were more important than the geographical distance. These results indicated that β diversity of plant community species in the Beishan and Manongshan areas of Dunhuang resulted from habitat filtration and dispersal restriction. Species composition of communities differed greatly, and habitat filtration accounted for a large proportion of species turnover.

Key words: plant communities, β diversity, environmental filtration, diffusion restriction, climate, in Beishan and Manongshan of Dunhuang